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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Wrey's Bush
Wrey's Bush lies within the Wairio riding of the county of Wallace, and in the Wallace electoral district. It extends from the settlement of Wairio to, and beyond, Aparima, or Jacob's river, and had a population of 289 at the census of 1901. The district is said to be named after its first settler, but the post office is known as Annandale. It is conducted at one of the local stores, and has been connected by telephone since 1899. Mails are received, and despatched, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, each week. Wrey's Bush is twelve miles from Otautau, five miles from Nightcaps, four and a-half miles from Wairio, four miles from Aparima, and eighteen miles from Winton. The district is mostly flat, and the bush with which it was originally covered has entirely disappeared, with the exception of a few very small patches. For a number of years there was a public school in the district, under the control of a local committee, but as the majority of the settlers belong to the Roman Catholic church, that body established a convent and convent school, and ultimately purchased and removed the school building to a site on its own property. This denominational school, therefore, is the only school in the district. St. Peter's church and the Roman Catholic presbytery are centrally situated and there is no other church page 974 in the district. The presbytery dates back to 1899, and since that time there has been a resident priest. There are two stores and a blacksmith's shop in the district. The settlement is connected with the surrounding country by good cycling roads.